Preparing for your appointment

Your doctor may have you fill out a questionnaire to make a preliminary assessment of your stress incontinence symptoms. You may also be asked to keep a bladder diary for a few days. In a bladder diary, you record when, how much and what kind of fluids you consume, as well as when and how much you urinate and when you experience incontinence episodes.

Your diary may reveal patterns that help your doctor understand your symptoms and identify contributing factors. This may reduce the need for more-invasive testing.

Specialized testing may require referral to a specialist in urinary disorders for men and women (urologist) or a specialist in urinary disorders in women (urogynecologist).

What you can do

To get the most from your visit to the doctor, prepare in advance:

Make a list of any symptoms you're experiencing. Include when urine leakage occurs.

Make a list of any medications, herbs or vitamin supplements you take. Some over-the-counter supplements can irritate the urinary tract. Also include doses and how often you take the medication.

Have a family member or close friend accompany you. You may be given a lot of information at your visit, and it can be difficult to remember everything.

Prepare a list of questions to ask your doctor. List your most important questions first, in case time runs out.

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